The Straw Parlor by Eugene Field
The story revolves around a young girl who lives with her grandmother in a small village. The grandmother has a mysterious past and the villagers are wary of her. One day, the girl discovers a hidden room in their house, which contains a straw parlor where her grandmother used to work as a fortune teller. As she explores the room, she uncovers secrets about her family's past and the reason for the villagers' hostility towards them.
By Eugene Field · First published 1892 · Genre: Children's Literature, Poetry, Fantasy · 706 words
First lines
Way up at the top of a big stack of straw / Was the cunningest parlor that ever you saw! / And there could you lie when aweary of play / And gossip or laze in the coziest way; / No matter how careworn or sorry one's mood / No worldly distraction presumed to intrude. / As a refuge from onerous mundane ado / I think I approve of straw parlors, don't you?
What this Textopian page supports
The Straw Parlor is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Eugene Field
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Poetry, Fantasy, Humor, Nature Writing
- Length: 706 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Straw Parlor by Eugene Field
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Similar titles
- The Related Muff by Edith Nesbit
- The Naughty Doll by Eugene Field
- The Katydids by James Whitcomb Riley
- Little Mistress Sans Merci by Eugene Field
- Beard And Baby by Eugene Field
- The Laughing Hippopotamus by L. Frank Baum
Genres
- Children's Literature — The whimsical and playful nature of the poem, along with its focus on animals and simple themes, makes it suitable for a children's audience.
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and rhythm characteristic of poetry.
- Fantasy — The anthropomorphism of animals and the imaginative setting of a straw parlor create a fantastical atmosphere.
- Humor — The light-hearted tone and playful antics of the characters contribute to a humorous narrative.
Tags
American Literature · Poetry · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Whimsy · Fantasy · Imagination · Playful · Lighthearted · Quirky · Nostalgic